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CHAPTER SIX
Austin
Austin’s plane toucheddown at O’Hare International a week later. A wave of irritation descended as every passenger beside him stood, racing to collect their belongings from the overhead bins the second the plane reached the gate.
With a sigh, Austin rolled his eyes and rested his forehead against the tiny window, gazing out at the tarmac. The air traffic marshals in neon vests pocketed their orange glow sticks and moved to open the cargo hold. Below his feet, the thump and bump of luggage jarred the floor. He grinned, lifting his gaze to the gunmetal-gray sky.
That can’t be snow, can it?
He pressed his nose to the window and cringed.Eww! Why’d I just do that?Rubbing his sleeve along his nose, he frowned as the small flecks of white wafted in the wind and collided with the side of the aircraft.
“First time in Chicago?”
Austin turned away from the smudged plastic and grinned at the flight attendant. A bag of trash crinkled in her hands.
“Umm, no. I was just here a few weeks ago. It was like sixty degrees!” He tapped the window. “What the hell happened?”
“Welcome to the Midwest, sweetie.” She smiled and stepped sideways, scooping trash from the seat pockets in the adjacent row.
“Yeah. Welcome to the Midwest,” he muttered, tugging his phone from his pocket. The device powered on, Lauren’s name flashing before his eyes. He tapped the screen to reveal the first text that read she missed him, and another to ask if he’d landed safely yet.
Oh, Lauren...
He banged out a response and hitsend, opening a new message to Casey with a smile. He tapped out,Just landed!And with a snort, he searched for a snowflake emoji.What’s this white stuff?
The aisle started to clear as the line of passengers slowly deboarded. Snagging his backpack, Austin stood and stretched. His phone vibrated, and he glanced down to read,Oh California boy, this is going to be an adjustment for you!A winking face followed her words before she added,Be there within an hour to pick you up. Text me when you’re outside.
He inhaled, and the stale air of the cabin circulated in his lungs. A ball of nerves bounced around in his belly as he followed the line and exited the plane, each step hammering in his new reality.
Sweet home Chicago.
He continued through the gate and out of the terminal. The greasy smell of French fries and the sugary sweetness of Cinnabon infused, infiltrating his nose as he followed the signs toward baggage claim. Austin breezed past the airport shops, momentarily getting sidetracked as his gaze scanned the racks of magazines untilThe Funny Partappeared. He swallowed, pushing down the unease gripping his soul as he hopped into an overcrowded elevator.
A burst of icy air tingled along his skin as he approached the conveyor belt moments later. It spun lazily, rotating a single brown bag with a red ribbon. Above him, the Chicago flag danced in the cold air each time the revolving doors of the terminal opened.
I hope I made the right choice moving here.
Two thousand miles away, he’d left his safe and familiar job. He’d left his family. He’d left his home. “And I left you there too, Mavs,” he whispered as the bell rang and red lights flashed on the carousel.
Time and distance. We both need it.
His small duffle bag turned the corner, and Austin grabbed it, tapping his phone to open a new text.
Ready or not, Casey girl. Here I am.
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